CRCS

Purdue Welcomes Center to Study Chinese Society

China’s influence on the world as a growing economic power means people are taking more interest in its people, customs and traditions.

A big part of that, according to Fenggang Yang, is the country’s religions.

“Religions are growing fast in China,” Fenggang said. “It will have social impacts.”

Fenggang and about three dozen people celebrated the official creation of the Center on Religion and Chinese Society Wednesday afternoon in the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship at Purdue University. Fenggang is director of the new center.

The event was celebrated by a series of panel discussions on religion and its impacts in China. The Chinese government only allows Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism, according to Fenggang.

“In order to understand China, we need to know religion,” Fenggang said. “Doing business in China, you will need to know the local cultures.”